JP3491920B2 - Drive device for recording information medium - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording information medium drive device for recording / reproducing / erasing information on / from an information recording medium contained in a cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a floppy disk, an optical disk, an IC memory card or the like is used as an information recording medium housed in a cartridge. Information is recorded / reproduced / erased on / from these information recording media by a drive device such as a floppy disk drive device, an optical disk drive device, or an IC memory card drive device.

Recently, drive devices have been widely used for portable computers such as laptop computers. It is desired that these drive devices be thin and have low power consumption. That is, it is desired to reduce the thickness of a portable computer to improve portability, reduce power consumption, and extend the time for which the battery can be driven by a built-in battery.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of a conventional optical disk drive device. FIG. 5A is a front view of a general optical disk drive device, in which a cartridge insertion / ejection port 2 is provided on the operation panel 1, a light emitting unit 3 indicating that the drive device is operating, and a cartridge drive device. An eject button 4 and the like for ejecting from the device are provided.

FIGS. 5B and 5C are front views of a thinned optical disk drive device for a portable computer. Even in this thin optical disk drive device, since the same cartridge as that used in the case of FIG. 5A is used, the operation panel 1
The cartridge insertion / ejection port 2 provided in FIG.
It will be the same size as the one. Therefore, the area occupied by the surface of the operation panel 1 excluding the cartridge insertion / ejection port 2 is reduced. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5C, in this thin optical disk drive device, only the light emitting portion 3 indicating that the drive device is operating is provided on the surface of the operation panel 1, and the eject button 4 is provided separately. Some of them are provided in some places.

In some cases, the drive device does not require the eject button 4 by providing a power load / eject mechanism. The drive device having this power load / eject mechanism sends an eject command from the host computer side to the drive device to perform an eject operation by a motor or the like. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an eject button, and a thin drive device can be obtained.

In a drive device which does not have a power load / eject mechanism, the eject mechanism is of mechanical type so that when the eject button 4 is pressed to eject the cartridge, the cartridge is prevented from popping out too much. That is, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-143066, a spring as a cartridge conveying member is provided with a spring to press the cartridge against the inner wall surface of the side surface of the receiver when the cartridge is ejected, and the amount of protrusion of the cartridge by contact frictional force. In addition to limiting it, it is designed to prevent drop damage.

[0008]

However, as shown in FIG. 5 (b).
In the thin drive device shown in FIG. 5C, the area occupied by the operation panel 1 becomes extremely small.
As shown in (b), the eject button 4 is attached to the operation panel 1.
Even if the button is provided, the eject button 4 itself becomes extremely thin. For this reason, the strength is weak and it is easily damaged.

When the eject button 4 is pressed with a finger to eject the cartridge, the eject button 4 and the cartridge inserting / ejecting port 2 are close to each other, so that the cartridge ejected from the cartridge inserting / ejecting port cannot be ejected. Hits. As a result, not only is the cartridge ejecting operation prevented from being performed normally, but also the ejecting mechanism, which is the cartridge ejecting mechanism provided inside the drive, is loaded, and the cartridge ejecting mechanism is destroyed. There is.

On the other hand, in the one disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-143066 in which the amount of protrusion of the cartridge is limited at the time of ejecting the cartridge to prevent drop damage, the cartridge is discharged while receiving the contact frictional force on the receiver. Therefore, the ejection of the cartridge can be prevented, but since the information recording medium is located above the eject button 4, the ejecting operation is hindered by hitting the recording medium ejected by the finger pressing the eject button 4. Therefore, not only the normal ejection operation cannot be performed, but also the ejection mechanism, which is the cartridge ejection mechanism, is loaded, which may lead to the destruction of the cartridge ejection mechanism.

Further, in a drive device having a so-called power load / eject mechanism for performing a loading eject by a motor or the like, since the eject button 4 does not have to be provided, the drive device can be made thin.
Since a drive source such as a motor is specially required, there is a disadvantage that power consumption increases, which is not preferable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a space-efficient eject button on an operation panel to reduce the thickness and to obtain a drive unit for an information recording medium in which a cartridge does not hit a finger during an eject operation.

[0013]

A drive device for a recorded information medium according to the present invention is formed so as to form a part of one side of a cartridge insertion / ejection port or a part of one side of an outer shape of an operation panel, and outputs a cartridge ejection instruction. The eject button for performing, the eject mechanism that pushes the eject button when the cartridge is completely inserted and pushes the eject button, and pushes the eject button when the cartridge is inserted.
If you do, the ejection of the cartridge is prohibited and the
When the eject button is released, the cartridge
And a mechanism that enables the discharge of

The ejecting instruction of the cartridge is given when the eject button is pressed, and when the pressing is released, the eject mechanism urges the cartridge toward the cartridge inserting / ejecting port. Further, at least one side surface of the eject button is provided with a concave portion or a convex portion, and the operation panel is provided with a convex portion or a concave portion slidably fitted therein.

On the other hand, an eject button for forming a part of one side of the cartridge insertion / ejection opening or a part of one side of the outer shape of the operation panel for instructing the ejection of the cartridge and a state in which the insertion of the cartridge is completed When the eject button is projected and the eject button is pressed, the eject mechanism that urges the cartridge toward the cartridge insertion / ejection port, and when the eject button is pressed, the ejection of the cartridge is prohibited and the cartridge is released when the pressing is released And a stopper member that enables the discharge of

The stopper member is curvedly fixed to the operation panel.

Further, an inclined portion is provided at a position where the stopper member comes into contact with the eject button, and the stopper member is configured to slide on the inclined portion of the eject button from a state where the eject button is pressed to a state where the pressing is released. The ejection of the cartridge is prohibited when the eject button is pressed, and the ejection of the cartridge is enabled when the pressing is released.

[0018]

With this structure, since the eject button having a good space efficiency is provided on the operation panel, the drive device can be made thin. In addition, since the ejector is equipped with a stopper member that prohibits ejection of the cartridge when the eject button is pressed and allows ejection of the cartridge when the ejection button is released, the cartridge may hit your finger during the eject operation. The cartridge ejection mechanism can be prevented from being damaged.

[0019]

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a front view of an operation panel 1 of a drive device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The operation panel 1 is provided with a cartridge insertion / ejection port 2 in the center thereof. The periphery of the cartridge insertion / ejection port 2 of the operation panel 1 is an inclined surface. The light emitting unit 5 indicates that the drive device is operating.

One side of the eject button 4 forms the cartridge insertion / ejection port 2, and the other side is collinear with the end side of the operation panel 1. In this way, the eject button 4 occupies the height Hb of the operation panel 1. Operation panel 1 formed by the eject button 4
The height Hb of the cartridge is determined by the height Hd of the drive device and the thickness of the cartridge.
Can be obtained from

Therefore, in the operation panel 1, the eject button 4 is a part of one side of the substantially rectangular cartridge insertion / ejection port 2 or the substantially rectangular operation panel 1.
Since a part of one side of the outer shape of the operation panel is configured, even a thin drive device having a short length from the cartridge insertion / ejection port 2 to the outer shape of the operation panel 1 can be extended over the entire area up to the outer shape of the operation panel 1. Thus, the eject button 4 can be provided. Also, since the strength and rigidity can be kept high, so-called manual ejection is possible. As a result, a special drive source such as a motor is not required, so that the power consumption of the drive device can be reduced.

FIG. 2 shows the back surface of the operation panel 1. A stopper member 6 is fixed to the operation panel 1 in a cantilever shape. That is, one end 7 of the stopper 6
Is fixed to the back surface of the operation panel by heat welding, and the other end 8 of the stopper member 6 is formed so as to contact the eject button 4 and slide while bending in the direction of arrow a in FIG. The eject button 4 is provided with guide portions 9 on both sides thereof for guiding the eject button 4 in the pressing direction. Further, the eject button 4 is provided with a hole 10, and the hole 10 is for connecting with a cartridge discharging member of an eject mechanism provided inside a drive device (not shown).

The eject button 4 is shown in FIG. Guide portions 9 are provided on both side surfaces of the eject button 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide portion 9 is formed by a concave portion or a convex portion, and the operation panel 1 is also provided with a convex portion or a concave portion that is slidably fitted therein. Eject button 4
Moves slidably along the guide portion 9 in the pressing direction, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. That is, the eject button 4 is guided by the guide portion 9 and the operation panel 1
Slide in the depth direction of.

An inclined portion 11 is formed at a portion of the eject button 4 with which the stopper member 6 abuts. The inclined portion 11 presses the other end 8 of the stopper member 6 in conjunction with the operation of the eject button 4 to bend the stopper member 6.

FIG. 4 shows the operation when the cartridge is ejected. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the cartridge 12 is not yet inserted in the drive device. In this state, the eject button 4 is located on the same plane as the operation panel 1. FIG. 4B shows the cartridge 12
Indicates that the insertion has been completed in the drive device. In this state, the eject button 4 projects from the operation panel 1. In this state, the drive device operates to record / reproduce / erase information on / from the information recording medium housed in the cartridge 12. When those necessary operations are completed and the cartridge 12 is ejected from the drive device, the eject button 4 is pressed.

Since the eject mechanism (not shown) and the eject button 4 are connected to the cartridge discharge member provided in the hole 10, the eject mechanism urges the cartridge 12 leftward in the drawing. Figure 4
(C) shows a state in which the eject button 4 is pressed. In this state, the other end 8 of the stopper member 6 is lifted by the inclined portion 11 provided on the eject button 4, and the stopper member 6 bends. Therefore, the cartridge 12 biased in the ejection direction contacts the stopper member 6, and the movement of the operation panel 1 to the cartridge insertion ejection port 2 is prevented. For this reason, even if the drive device is thin and the position where the finger blocks the cartridge insertion / ejection port, the cartridge 12 does not hit the finger.

Next, FIG. 4D shows a state where the finger is released from the eject button 4 in this state. When you release your finger from the eject button 4, the eject button 4
Same as (a), when the position is on the same plane as the operation panel 1,
In addition, since the stopper member 6 is not bent and there is nothing that prevents the ejection of the cartridge 12, the cartridge 12 is ejected.

As described above, since the cartridge 12 is ejected when the eject button 4 is pressed and released, the finger does not hit the ejected cartridge 12. In other words, since the eject mechanism does not act on the eject mechanism due to the finger hitting the ejected cartridge 12, it is possible to prevent the eject mechanism from being destroyed.

Further, when the eject button 4 is in a position where it is pressed to eject the cartridge 12, the stopper member 6 prohibits the ejection of the cartridge 12, and when the ejection button 4 is released from the pressing state, the stopper is released. Since the prohibition of the ejection of the cartridge 12 by the member 6 is released, it is possible to reliably inhibit the ejection of the cartridge 12 when the eject button 4 is pressed. Therefore, as the fingers block the cartridge insertion / ejection port 2 when the eject button is pressed, the eject button 4 and the cartridge insertion / ejection port 2 can be brought closer to each other, so that the drive device can be made thinner.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the eject button is formed so as to form a part of one side of the cartridge insertion / ejection port or a part of one side of the outer shape of the operation panel, the space efficiency of the operation panel is improved. Therefore, the drive device can be made thinner. In addition, a stopper member is provided that prohibits the ejection of the cartridge when the eject button is pressed and allows the ejection of the cartridge when the pressing button is released. Disappears. This prevents destruction of the eject mechanism. That is, it is possible to provide a drive device for an information recording medium that has high operability and safety.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an operation panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the operation panel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an eject button of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an operation panel in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 Operation panel 2 Cartridge insert / eject port 3 light emitting part 4 eject button 5 Light emitting part 6 Stopper member 7 One end of stopper member 8 Other end of stopper member 9 Guide part 10 holes 11 inclined part 12 cartridges

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Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A drive unit for a recording information medium for recording / reproducing / erasing information on / from an information recording medium housed in the cartridge by inserting the cartridge into a cartridge insertion / ejection port provided on an operation panel. An eject button for forming a part of one side of the insertion / ejection port or a part of one side of the operation panel outer shape for instructing the ejection of the cartridge, and the eject button when the cartridge is completely inserted. When the eject button is pressed and the eject button is pressed, and an eject mechanism that biases the cartridge toward the cartridge insertion / ejection port, and the cartridge mechanism when the eject button is pressed.
Of the eject button and release the push of the eject button.
A mechanism that allows the cartridge to be ejected when removed
Drive device for a recording information medium characterized by comprising a. 2. A cartridge insertion provided on the operation panel.
Insert the cartridge into the inlet / outlet port
Performs recording / reproducing / erasing of information on the stored information recording medium
Therefore, in a drive device for a recording information medium, an eject button for instructing ejection of the cartridge
And the cartridge in the direction of the cartridge insertion and ejection port.
An eject mechanism for urging the eject button, and the eject button is released when the eject button is released.
Ejector mechanism is configured to eject the cartridge.
Drive for recording information media characterized by
Place 3. A drive unit for a recording information medium for recording / reproducing / erasing information on / from an information recording medium housed in the cartridge by inserting the cartridge into a cartridge insertion / ejection port provided on an operation panel. An eject button for forming a part of one side of the insertion / ejection port or a part of one side of the outer shape of the operation panel for issuing a discharge instruction of the cartridge,
In a state where the cartridge is completely inserted, when the eject button is projected and the eject button is pressed, an eject mechanism that urges the cartridge toward the cartridge insertion / ejection port, and in a state where the eject button is pressed, A drive device for a recording information medium, comprising: a stopper member that prohibits the ejection of the cartridge and enables the ejection of the cartridge when the pressing is released. 4. The eject button is provided with a concave portion or a convex portion on at least one side surface thereof, and the operation panel is provided with a convex portion or a concave portion slidably fitted therein. Drive device for recording information media of. 5. The drive device for a recorded information medium according to claim 3, wherein the stopper member is fixed to the operation panel so as to be bendable. 6. An inclined portion is provided at a position where the stopper member comes into contact with the eject button, and the stopper member slides on the inclined portion of the eject button from a state where the eject button is pressed to a state where the press button is released. The ejecting of the cartridge is prohibited when the eject button is pressed, and the ejection of the cartridge is enabled when the pressing button is released. A drive device for the recorded information medium described in 1.